Nearly a year after they were arrested at a Charlottesville apartment party, Virginia football player Demetrius Dotson and former player Duane Fisher were found guilty of marijuana possession in Albemarle General District Court last week.
Court Clerk Windy Payne said the two are appealing the conviction, and the case will be heard again in August.
Judge Stephen Helzin sentenced Dotson, a rising fifth-year wide receiver, and Fisher, a former defensive back, to suspended 30-day jail sentences and $50 fines, but the punishments will not be levied until the appeal is heard.
The players' attorney, Lawrence Woodward, could not be reached for comment.
After playing primarily on special teams last season, Fisher was not asked to return to the team for 2000, said Michael Colley, assistant athletic media relations director. As a redshirt junior in 1999, Fisher appeared in 100 plays and registered four special teams tackles, including two against Clemson. His best season was 1998, when he participated in 99 plays and was a significant contributor on special teams with 10 tackles.
Fisher could not be reached for comment at his home in Alpharetta, Ga.
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Dotson was a starting wide receiver for Virginia until he suffered a knee injury against Duke Oct. 9. He returned for the Micronpc.com Bowl Dec. 30 and caught two passes for 29 yards. In his career, Dotson has played in 26 games and has registered 26 receptions for 403 yards.
Dotson's best performance last season was a four-catch, 70 yard outing against Virginia Tech Oct. 2. His 19.7 yards-per-reception average was best on the team.
Dotson could not be reached for comment.
Last season, several players, including linebacker John Duckett and running back Antwoine Womack, were suspended from the team because of legal troubles. So far, no action has been taken against Dotson. The football team has no set criteria for punishing its players.
"They take it on a case-by-case basis," Colley said.
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